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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The student government association of the University of Maryland held a rally on Thursday to protest the reinstatement of its football coach, DJ Durkin, and demand justice for Jordan McNair, the Maryland offensive line, died on June 13 from a heat stroke May 29 team training.
Durkin returned to work on Tuesday after the Maryland System University's governing board recommended his reinstatement after reviewing a report of the Durkin program's culture survey. The third year coach was on paid administrative leave since August 11th.
Football coach DJ Durkin has met with his Maryland team on Tuesday and will lead Saturday against Michigan State, a source told ESPN. Earlier in the day, Maryland's board of directors recommended that the school retain Durkin and his athletic director, Damon Evans.
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The Council of Maryland Regents dropped his school on Tuesday when it recommended keeping DJ Durkin as a football coach despite the findings of his own commission.
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Jonathan Allen, president of Maryland's student body, told ESPN that the students are "scandalized" by the council's decision. Allen will introduce emergency legislation at a meeting of the student government association on Wednesday night in which university president Wallace Loh will be mandated to fire Durkin. Sources told ESPN that Loh, who announced Tuesday that he would retire in June, brought Durkin back only after the council of regents threatened to sack the president 's president. he was not reinstating the coach.
"People are dismayed," Allen said. "When I talked to stakeholders – media, alums, donors – in the last few months, all this was said, they all said it was not possible for Durkin to come back. Still, he comes back and the president is the one who leaves?
"When the system fails, the next obvious step will be to push the grassroots, to express themselves and to show the scandal and feelings that the students have felt about these decisions."
Allen, who hopes to meet Loh later on Wednesday to understand his view of the decision, said Regent Chairman James Brady was primarily responsible for the decisions to reinstate Durkin and his sports director, Damon Evans.
"It would not have worked better for President Brady," said Allen, a senior Florida official specializing in government and politics. "He did not need to buy out the multi-million dollar contract from coach Durkin.He did not need to buy out Damon Evans' contract, did not need to dismiss a president and potentially have a trial if President Loh ruled that there was no valid reason, redeemed [former Maryland football strength coach] Rick Court, causing many concerns, for $ 315,000.
"The only person who paid, as the McNair family representative said, was Jordan, and that was with his life, which is why we are outraged."
Allen has contacted McNair's parents, Marty McNair and Tonya Wilson, through their attorneys, and hopes that they will be able to attend Thursday's rally.
The student government association announced Tuesday night's rally on Facebook and by late Wednesday morning, more than 1,000 people had either confirmed their participation in the rally, or expressed interest. Many student groups co-sponsored the event, including College Democrats, College Republicans, the Black Students Union and the NAACP Maryland Chapter.
Allen said the initial time of the rally at 15:30. outside the McKeldin Library, could be adjusted because it conflicts with the practice of Maryland football and he wants players to be able to attend. He contacted several players of the team.
"In the end, it's about them," Allen said. "If they want to be there, we should do everything we can to make sure they are there and support them as we can."
Allen will also propose Wednesday night a dramatic reduction in mandatory registration fees for Maryland students, who go to the sports department. Each Maryland student pays $ 406 a year to Terrapins Athletics.
"Students say since the summer:" How will I be forced to financially support a athletic department that does not share the same values as me? "Said Allen.
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